Intake regulation of vitamins C, B1, and B3 in the eastern subterranean termites, Reticulitermes flavipes (Blattodea: Heterotermitidae)

Abstract There has been limited information when it comes to understanding the nutritional intake and distribution of vitamins in insects. This is especially true for how vitamins affect insect foraging behavior. Vitamins C, B1, and B3 are essential micronutrients that many insects require for development and growth as larvae and for reproduction as adults. This study used the geometric framework design to examine the relative food preference for vitamins C, B1, and B3 in the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar). Three experiments were performed in which termites were presented with 2 artificial foods enriched with an opposing 3:1 ratio of 2 of the 3 vitamins tested in this study. They were allowed to feed on the foods for 2 wk. The amount of food consumed was measured periodically over the 2-wk period, and the total amount of each vitamin consumed was calculated. Food with a higher level of vitamin C was consumed significantly more than food with a higher level of vitamin B1 or B3. There was no apparent consumption preference between food with higher levels of vitamin B1 and B3; however, more vitamin B3 was consumed than vitamin B1 in the experiment that compared these 2 vitamins.